Massachusetts Rifle Association - Woburn, MA

[Jenska22]

Yeah there's a long wait, but I Joined recently and love the 24x7 availability and the 22lr only range which is much quieter than the "anything goes range". Will be easier to get the wife to come and practice.

 

[Lance_Kilkenny]

Yeah there's a long wait, but I Joined recently and love the 24x7 availability and the 22lr only range which is much quieter than the "anything goes range". Will be easier to get the wife to come and practice.

Sorry, what does "long wait" refer to? I was just looking into MRA today...

 

[Jenska22]

Sorry, what does "long wait" refer to? I was just looking into MRA today...

will have to check the current state but its usually 2-3 month

 

[PappyM3]

Yeah there's a long wait, but I Joined recently and love the 24x7 availability and the 22lr only range which is much quieter than the "anything goes range". Will be easier to get the wife to come and practice.

The air gun/rimfire range is a great option for teaching/bringing new shooters. I generally prefer outdoors for new shooters, but even the 50 yard range can be loud due to its he baffles (which I get are very much needed for safety of nearby areas).

 

[Sunny]

Looks perfect for what I want from their website. I foolishly showed up in person today, only to speak with the snack machine guy. Do you get to come in anytime as a member 24/7? Do you always have a range open where you can shoot a 5.56 AR?

Location is the biggest appeal for MRA. At the 95/93 intersection. You can't beat it.
Besides location, it's still a great club. It's paper targets only, no steel. Only special events will have steel, bowling pins, etc. There are no dedicated RSOs on site, so members are encouraged to be the RSOs (and people are always receptive to it).
I really enjoy the 25yd pistol-only range and the 50yd rifle range. The 50 range will be your best for slow-fire aimed shots with the AR (open sunrise to sunset only). The indoor 25yd range is short, but it's open 24/7 and you can shoot almost anything.

Again, location. I can be on my day, work, errands, and swing by MRA with my backpack of guns, ammo, and targets. I don't have to dedicate a "range day" since I can squeeze in pew time so easily.

Join MRA. I have my complaints but overall it's good stuff.

 

[DosesR1]

I enjoy MRA though after enough impromptu range visits being complete fails because the ranges would be closed or off limits for an ltc class I became a member elsewhere too

 

[VigilantesLiberi]

I enjoy MRA though after enough impromptu range visits being complete fails because the ranges would be closed or off limits for an ltc class I became a member elsewhere too

I walked in on a Sunday boomer-fest today and was told they won't take any new applications until Nov 3rd. Fair enough, I should learn how to read their homepage. They are the closest range to me. Only one closer is the one in Malden, but that is only pistol and nothing like MRA.

 

[VigilantesLiberi]

There were lines forming there today to sign up. Earliest orientation dates were in March!

 

[Sunny]

There were lines forming there today to sign up. Earliest orientation dates were in March!

So why is the range always empty?? Do people just sign up and only shoot once or twice when they have vacation time and the weather is nice? They should require that you use the range X times per year, or forfeit membership to make room for others. Everyone brags about how they have the coolest toys but I guess they're just having sex with their guns and not actually shooting them.

 

[aphextwin11]

So why is the range always empty?? Do people just sign up and only shoot once or twice when they have vacation time and the weather is nice? They should require that you use the range X times per year, or forfeit membership to make room for others. Everyone brags about how they have the coolest toys but I guess they're just having sex with their guns and not actually shooting them.

I actually kind of like that there's not a ton of people there outside peak hours, I feel like I have the place to myself. Plus, if people want to pay the membership fee and not go, so be it - place is run entirely on volunteers and I'm sure maintaing that old building is expensive.

 

[travx]

So why is the range always empty?? Do people just sign up and only shoot once or twice when they have vacation time and the weather is nice? They should require that you use the range X times per year, or forfeit membership to make room for others. Everyone brags about how they have the coolest toys but I guess they're just having sex with their guns and not actually shooting them.

The Loeb is always busy on weekends, but I appreciate that most ranges are not busy when I want to use them. There’s nothing like having the Pope to yourself on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.

 

[WaltHooligan]

There were lines forming there today to sign up. Earliest orientation dates were in March!

I went there on 11/3 to sign up and was surprised by the amount of people. I arrived there at 10 am and was #51 in line and took about an hour before I could drop off my application then pay and schedule my orientation date which is in March since for February the dates didn't work for me.

 

[Jenska22]

I actually kind of like that there's not a ton of people there outside peak hours, I feel like I have the place to myself. Plus, if people want to pay the membership fee and not go, so be it - place is run entirely on volunteers and I'm sure maintaing that old building is expensive.

I love the fact that its 24x7 and I can go whenever I want. My son and I were there last Thursday (I think) afternoon (12-3 ish) and there were 2 people on the range, who both left while we were shooting and one more came before we left. Weekends seem to be busy so that's a good time to socialize. I need lots of practice so having a semi-private range suits me fine. I'll put in my volunteer time in 2025 when I can.

 

[Jenska22]

I walked in on a Sunday boomer-fest today and was told they won't take any new applications until Nov 3rd. Fair enough, I should learn how to read their homepage. They are the closest range to me. Only one closer is the one in Malden, but that is only pistol and nothing like MRA.

I walked in one Sunday and just missed the last signup for a 3 month wait, So I waited for 4 months. Good ranges, nice people; it was worth it.

 

[PappyM3]

So why is the range always empty?? Do people just sign up and only shoot once or twice when they have vacation time and the weather is nice? They should require that you use the range X times per year, or forfeit membership to make room for others. Everyone brags about how they have the coolest toys but I guess they're just having sex with their guns and not actually shooting them.

An alternative is to reassess average utilization per member. Then base total membership on those numbers. Maybe they do, I’m not sure.

Nothing inherently wrong with having members that pay dues and don’t use it much.

I think all ranges encounter busy days and near-empty days. Weekends and events will always be big turnout while weekday days will always be light.

 

[Jenska22]

An alternative is to reassess average utilization per member. Then base tot’s membership on those numbers. Maybe they do, I’m not sure.

Nothing inherently wrong with having members that pay dues and don’t use it much.

I think all ranges encounter busy days and near-empty days. Weekends and events will always be big turnout while weekday days will always be light.

I'm a night owl, so I'm looking forward to the 10pm-midnight slot indoors